Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) held a hugely successful Gala at Brae Burn Country Club on Tuesday April 16th with hundreds of Westchester community and business leaders, government officials, and Westchester residents, all passionate advocates for helping those in need in Westchester County.
The event honorees were Meira Fleisch of Larchmont, a child and family advocate and longtime WJCS Board member who was an Early Learning Specialist in the WJCS ParentChild+ program for many years, and Stephanie Marquesano of Ardsley, founder of the harris project. Marquesano is a partner with WJCS in promoting the importance of identifying and treating the co-occurring disorders of substance use and mental health.
(From left) Seth Diamond, CEO; Meira Fleisch, Honoree; Stephanie Marquesano, Honoree; Lauren Candela-Katz, Chief Advancement Office; Shannon Van Loon, Chief Program Officer
The evening was filled with inspiring words and stories shared by WJCS clients who shared their struggles before coming to the agency and how the organization transformed their lives.
“Since 1943, WJCS has been here for the people of Westchester. Today we provide programs and services for 20,000 Westchester residents of all ages and backgrounds. This year’s Gala theme was “Support. Resiliency. Well-Being.” That captures the transformative impact that WJCS supporters make possible,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. “With the support of our partners in government, philanthropic foundations, community organizations, and donors, we look forward to continuing to fulfill our mission of helping individuals in Westchester address mental health, educational, cognitive, social, aging, and financial challenges and shape positive futures.”
Chairman of the Westchester Legislature Vedat Gashi, Publisher of Inside Press Magazines Grace Bennett, and Westchester Commissioner of Mental Health Michael Orth INSIDE PRESS PHOTO
Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) Chairperson Emeritus Joseph Kaidanow (left) & HHREC’s Treasurer Andrew R. Benerofe INSIDE PRESS PHOTO
ABOUT WJCS WJCS-Westchester Jewish Community Services has been serving those most vulnerable in Westchester county since its founding in 1943. It is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit, trauma-informed human service agency and its mission is to help people of all ages and backgrounds cope with emotional, cognitive, environmental, physical, interpersonal, social, and educational challenges. Agency experts, using evidence-based practices, provide youth, mental health, trauma, disabilities, and senior services to approximately 20,000 people each year. It also offers privately-funded educational and spiritual programs for the Jewish community. For more information, please visit https://www.wjcs.com.
Geared to Aid WJCS in its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services in Peekskill & Mount Vernon
WJCS (Westchester Jewish Community Services), the largest provider of outpatient licensed community-based services in Westchester county, was awarded a $4 million Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant–$2 million a year for two years–from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding will be used to broaden and deepen WJCS substance abuse and mental health services in Peekskill and Mt.Vernon, two of Westchester’s most under resourced communities.
“The SAMHSA grant will provide integrated care, combining behavioral health, physical health, and substance use services, to low-income individuals who face major emotional and social challenges, including lack of employment, inadequate housing conditions, poor access to health services and substance use and opioid use prevention, treatment, and recovery support,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. “COVID has only enhanced the challenges the residents of these communities face.WJCS is committed to providing an integrated, coordinated, and trauma-informed response to care for the people of Peekskill and Mt.Vernon.”
According to national data, only 10% of people who need mental health or substance use disorder care receive treatment. In Peekskill and Mt.Vernon, six of the eight zip codes experience a disproportionate number of deaths, emergency room visits, and hospital stays due to opioid use. Many individuals living there face significant barriers to care, including low availability of timely appointments after 3pm and during the weekend; a shortage of psychiatric staff across all agencies resulting in frustration for hospital discharge planners, and the only mobile crisis team in the county not operating on weeknights after 10pm and weekend nights after 5 p.m. With SAMHSA funding WJCS will leverage its clinics, community programs, and relationships with community partners to increase access, and improve mental health and health outcomes through enhanced integration of services and meaningful engagement. Visit www.wjcs.com
News courtesy of Westchester Jewish Community Services
